Happy New Year 2018

Happy New Year, or I should say Blwyddyn Newydd Dda as I am in Wales. 2018 has arrived. Do you look forward to the New Year? Do you take the optimistic view and wonder what 2018 has in store for you, what opportunities lie ahead, what new adventures will you have? Or the pessimistic line and dread what the new year will bring, what difficulties will there be, will you face challenges ahead? Or perhaps you are like me, and fluctuate between the two.

January is associated with Janus, a god in ancient Roman mythology. He is the god of beginnings and transitions and is usually depicted with two faces as he looks to the future and to the past. January 1st is the first day of the year on the modern Gregorian calendar. Amongst the first places to welcome in the New Year are Tonga, Samoa and Kiritimati or Christmas Island. Whilst the last few include American Samoa and Baker Island. I assume in the UK we must be somewhere near the middle.

In medieval times the first of January was linked to a superstition about prosperity in the coming year. In farmyards everywhere a flat cake was put on the horns of a cow, the farmer and farm workers would then sing and dance around the cow until the cake fell. If it landed in front of the cow it was good luck but if it fell behind it was bad luck. This custom appears to have died out, I cannot understand why!

Don't forget to celebrate Winnie the Pooh day on the 18th January, his creator A.A. Milne was born on this day in 1882. Also National Storytelling Week begins on the 27th January.

Finally have you made any New Year's Resolutions this year? I always think I should, to give me something to strive for, but if I choose the ones like eating healthier and doing more exercise I'm just setting myself up for failure...again. So this year I'm choosing something that should be enjoyable and achievable, my New Year's Resolution for 2018 is.... to read more books!